Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Vince understood Timothy better than most.

If Sandra and Abell had actually managed to persuade Timothy to file for divorce, they would have reached out to him ages ago-asked him to get in touch with Jessica, at least. But now, with the court date less than twenty-four hours away and still no word, it was obvious things weren't going as planned.

Larkin turned to Jessica and asked gently, "So, you're really sure there's no chance of you and Timothy getting back together?"

Jessica nodded.

"In that case," Larkin continued, "once the hearing's over tomorrow and you and Timothy are officially divorced-why not marry our Vince?"

Jessica blushed so deeply she could feel the heat creeping up her neck.

She waved her hands in protest, flustered.

"You don't want to?" Larkin prompted.

Hurriedly, Jessica grabbed a notepad and scribbled, "It's not that."

"Then what is it?"

She wrote, "Mr. Zimmerman is such a good man. I'm not worthy of him." Vince, silently watching from across the room, caught the words she'd written.noveldrama

Larkin chuckled. "You're an exceptional woman yourself, Jessy. There's no such thing as 'not worthy.' Vince has always been the more gentle one in the family, always quick with a smile. I think you'd be a wonderful match. And I know he admires you, too."

But Jessica still felt uneasy. The timing was all wrong: she was just coming out of a marriage, for one. And someone like Vince-well, with his family, his standing, and his talents—he could easily find someone who'd never been married, someone without a child, not someone like her with so much baggage.

Larkin turned to Vince. "If Jessy and Timothy divorce, would you be willing to marry her?"

Jessica's embarrassment deepened-she'd never even considered the possibility of her and Vince together, not like that. Besides, Vince and Timothy had known each other for years; they weren't exactly close, but they weren't strangers, either. "I would," Vince said simply.

He meant it. No woman had ever occupied his thoughts the way Jessica did. No woman had ever moved him so deeply, or impressed him so much.

So yes, he was willing. Her past didn't matter to him. Even if she wanted custody of Henry, he'd find a way—no matter what it took-to bring the boy over from the Lawson family for her.

Jessica was stunned. She couldn't even look at Vince now. If things ever turned romantic between them, she doubted she'd have the courage to keep talking to him at all. She'd always assumed Vince's concern for her er was just as a friend, nothing

more-especially given his

connection to her grandmother and

to Larkin.

She wasn't ready to start anything new, not when her old wounds hadn't healed.

Not with everything so tangled.

Larkin smiled warmly. "Jessy, Vince is willing. I've always thought you'd

make a good match. After et

about you, I wanted to bring it

but you and Timothy were already married, so I kept quiet. But now that you're getting a divorce, there's no need for me to hold back? I'd hate to see someone else swoop in and take you away. You'd be a wonderful addition to the Zimmerman family."

But Vince interrupted, "Not yet."

Larkin frowned. “You just agreed a second ago—don't tell me you're changing your mind?"

"It's not that," Vince explained quickly. He'd seen Jessica's discomfort, and he worried she'd withdraw from him altogether if things moved too fast. At the very least, he wanted her to feel she could still come to him for help.

He elaborated, "We still haven't found my little sister. Not long ago, Jessy and I discussed that if, in the end, she still hasn't turned up, Jessy could pretend to be her for a while to comfort my mother. But if Jessy and I announce an engagement, there's no way she could keep up that act."

Mentioning his granddaughter brought a shadow to Larkin's face. He turned to Jessica, his voice a little softer. "You and my Salome would have gotten along, I think. How old are you, Jessy?"

Jessica wrote, "Twenty-seven."

"Salome would be a year younger than you now. She disappeared when she was six. It's been twenty years, and we still haven't found her."

Jessica quickly scribbled a comforting note: "You've never given up searching. With all the advances in technology, maybe you'll find her soon."

The mention of his granddaughter weighed heavily on Larkin. After a few moments, he sighed and announced he needed to rest, encouraging Jessica to turn in as well and get over her jet lag so she'd be in good shape for court tomorrow.

Vince walked Jessica to the guest room. At her door, he paused and said, "Jessy, don't feel pressured. My grandfather never forgot your

grandmother, and he's alwayne

wanted to see us together. He's just talking-he's getting on in years, and I was just trying to make him happy when I agreed. If you're not comfortable, I'll never force you.

Don't worry about it, okay?"

Relief flooded Jessica's face. She raised her thumb in a small gesture of thanks.

Vince nodded and told her to get some rest.

As soon as she stepped inside, Vince headed out again.

He needed to find Timothy.

Up until now, he'd been on Jessica's side, yes, but he'd never made a firm decision to actively help her end her marriage. Now, he understood there was

no hope left for their relationship.

He had to see Timothy tonight.

Otherwise, tomorrow's hearing would be a disaster.